Harper notches 400th career win as WKU rolls over Alice Lloyd 104-64

Head Coach Ray Harper and the WKU bench reacts after a successful three-point basket during the first half of WKU’s Nov. 15 game against Austin Peay. The Hilltoppers defeated the Governors 77-70 in their opening game of the season. Brandon Carter/HERALD

Billy Rutledge
December 30, 2014

WKU Head basketball Coach Ray Harper notched his 400^th career win as a collegiate-level coach as WKU rolled over NAIA opponent Alice Lloyd College in Diddle Arena Monday night 104-64 in the team’s last non-conference game of the season.

“I’ve had some awfully good players and some great coaches I’ve had the opportunity to work with,” Harper said on the IMG Hilltopper Sports Network. “I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by some good people and some really good players and because of that we were able to win some games.”

Over 16 seasons, Harper has won 400 of his 504 contests, boasting a winning percentage of 79 throughout his career at Kentucky Wesleyan, Oklahoma City and WKU. The win is Harper’s 57th with WKU.

With this win and the Brescia match last week, WKU (7-5) has won back-to-back games by 40+ points for the first time since beating Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee State by 40+ in 2001.

Four players for WKU finished with double digit points including senior guard Trency Jackson who led WKU with a season high 19. Jackson hit five three pointers while fellow senior guard T.J. Price hit five three’s beyond the arc as well finishing with 18 points.

WKU ended with 15 three’s—just one shy of the Diddle Arena record for most by a single team in a game. Along with Jackson and Price, sophomore guard Chris Harrison-Docks made three from behind the arc and finished with 11 points while freshmen guards Avery Patterson and DJ Clayton finished with one three pointer each and both finished with nine points.

“This game was good for a lot of reasons,” Harper said. “We’re able to get some different combinations and hopefully some guys are gaining some confidence going forward.”

Trevor Tiller led the way for the Eagles as he led all scorers with 20 points. Tiller, who finished the first half with 13 points, was held to seven in the second half after Harper put Jackson on the guard to help WKU’s defense. Ty Rogers came into the game leading Alice Lloyd in scoring finished with 17 points.

WKU’s next game will be Sunday Jan. 4 at Diddle Arena against Marshall. The game will be the first Conference USA game in program history.